Reflections

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

For the last couple of years I have been making the point
from time to time during sermons, that I no longer say the pledge of
allegiance. I know this might sound strange to some but I cannot bring myself
to swear allegiance to any body of people (government or nation) that is
totally against the God of the Bible.

Yes, we are to submit to those in power (Rom. 13); but we
are never called upon to ally our selves with them. In fact we are commanded to
have no fellowship with darkness but to reprove such (Eph. 5:11). As a faithful
Christian we should be praying for the defeat of all wicked governments, world
over, including ours, as it currently is. A slave was/is to submit to his/her
master; but they are not spiritually bound to be “allied” to a wicked master.

Can I pledge (take a vow; give my word to support) to those
who murder babies under their perverted view of “freedom” and “law?” God hates
those who shed innocent blood; it is an abomination before Him (Pro. 6:16). How
can I pledge allegiance to that which He calls an abomination?

Can I pledge allegiance to those who just these week; not
only legalized but glamorized sodomy? God’s entire teaching on marriage; the
home; men and women as God designed them; has been spat upon “legally” and
“officially” by this godless, corrupt, morally bankrupt cesspool, called the
American Governmental system. And I will not “pledge allegiance” to that.

I will not put hand to heart and pledge my allegiance to a
nation that belittles, contradicts, despises and at every turn tries to silence
the word of God. I will not pledge allegiance to those who put God’s will
beneath their base emotional; physical and sexual desires (Rom. 1: 18-32).

I rather pledge undying and total allegiance to God and Him
ONLY (Mat. 4:10). I like Paul am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, which is
the power of God unto salvation, for all men (Rom. 1:16).

I like Paul pledge to recognize and shout from the roof tops
that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18).
This verse fits our country perfectly.

I pledge, like Jesus, to not care one whit if what we preach
offends every citizen of this vile land (Mat. 15:12-20). Wicked men have always
opposed the truth—and faithful men have always ignored them and pressed on
toward the mark of our HIGH CALLING (Phi. 3:14).

I pledge to teach the truth; the whole truth and only the
truth (Acts 20:27). Regardless of the consequences and in direct purposeful
opposition to any and all POWERS that raise the voice against the Pure,
Perfect, Inspired, Saving Word of our Almighty God.

I pledge my allegiance to stand for the Bride of Christ, the
church of Christ (Rev. 21:2). In Matthew 16:13-18 Christ spoke of this one church
that He would build. In Acts 2:47, we find that God places all the saved within
it. All of the saved of all the earth make up its population.

I pledge allegiance to stress to the lost that THE ONLY WAY
TO BE SAVED IS BY JESUS(Acts 4:12).
That God is the only divine being and that all must submit to His word or face
destruction (John 12:48).

I pledge to continue teach THE TRUTH concerning MARRIAGE AND
THE HOME, no matter what men may do to us (Mat. 10:28). Including, but not
limited to; the abominable sin of homosexuality (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-32; 1
Cor. 6:9-11). All fornication (unauthorized sexual activity—ONLY GOD can
dictate what is proper sexual behavior); heterosexual, homosexual; bestiality;
also includes adultery; is sin and will cause men to be lost (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

I pledge to never join those who do not have a DIVINE RIGHT
to marry in a marriage ceremony. I have on several occasions told couples who
have asked me to perform their marriage services “no.” And I will continue to
do so. I will never attempt to join a homosexual couple either. ONLY GOD CAN
JOIN PEOPLE IN MARRIAGE (Mat. 19:6). And all the judges; and politicians, and
people of this country– or the world combined; cannot FORCE GOD; to “marry”
those who have no right to be married.

Yes, I pledge my allegiance to God and Him ONLY. Much like
our political forefathers of a few centuries ago we too are going to have to
face the hard questions. And while the Declaration of Independence Does
Recognize God as our Creator and the One Who Bestows Rights and Value; our
current government has turned its back on these truths, and seeks to take them
from us. Forfeiting their right to govern, as set forth in the Declaration.

Let me modify the last couple of sentences of Patrick
Henry’s speech just prior to the
delegates vote on March 23, 1775.

Men may say peace, peace, but there is no peace. The war has
actually begun…. Why stand we here idle? What is it that Christians (he used
the word Gentlemen) wish? What would we have? Is life so dear, or peace so
sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it,
Almighty God! I know not what course others may take. But as for me, give me
liberty, or give me death.

Brethren, I pledge allegiance to God only. And will live
with the consequences of standing by the side of Jesus no matter the cost. For
I (like Paul) know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Tim. 1:12).

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Though relatively unknown, some Old Testament characters have quite a story to tell. You may have never heard of Ittai, but take a few moments to learn from the life of this man who lived during the days of David, King of Israel.

People of character, who are totally trustworthy, and have our best interests at heart, are few and far between. Contrariwise, some whom we may have deemed to be trustworthy have “stabbed us in the back.” It was no different with King David. His own son, Absalom, rebelled against his father, while an unknown man, Ittai, showed unusual loyalty to David. Ittai the Gittite was a native of Gath who appeared before David during this revolt about 1023 B.C. It is possible that Ittai was a Philistine and that the Philistines may have made life difficult due to the attachment he felt toward David, and that this is what occasioned his defection to David (2 Sam. 15:20).

Were Absalom, David’s son, still with us today, he would have made a powerful politician. He was a handsome fellow with “personality and charm” (2 Sam. 14:25), had a glib tongue, and was adept at making promises (2 Sam. 15:4). Evidently he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, including treachery, deceit, and a total lack of integrity.

David’s trusted friend and advisor, Ahithophel, turned traitor and joined Absalom in his effort to wrest the throne from his father, David. One wonders if Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather, still was upset at David for his actions with his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. Ahithophel thought it was time for a new king, and that Absalom could well fit that role.

These were dark days for David. With his own son leading the rebellion, and desiring to wrest the kingship from his father, David warned his men to flee, for “we shall not escape from Absalom” (2 Sam. 15:14); and that he (Absalom) would use the sword against the inhabitants of Jerusalem. David’s aides pledged loyalty to him, and said they would do whatever David thought was best.

As David prepared to flee, he watched as his army and other loyal followers filed past him, including the 600 men in his band who had been with him during his wanderings in Judah as he fled from Saul, the first King of Israel. Ittai, though not an Israelite (2 Sam. 15:19), was now the leader of these brave 600 men. Later we learn that he is listed as one of three of David’s generals (2 Sam. 18:2).

During this procession before David, Ittai makes his appearance, accompanied by his family. David urged Ittai to forget about joining up with him for a couple of reasons: (1) Ittai had only recently come to David, and (2) David, a fugitive from his own son, had no desire to make this “foreigner and exile” suffer from his (David’s) problems. David was asking why would you even think about participating in my cause which has such a doubtful outcome at the present time? But the answer given to David tells us volumes about the character of this man: “…as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” (cf. Ruth 1:16). Regardless of the hardships involved, Ittai was going to cast his lot with David, and he would not be persuaded by David’s urgings to escape while he could.

Ittai was not deceived by Absalom’s persuasive speech (2 Sam. 15:13), a refreshing thought indeed. There are always those in every generation who are easily influenced, going in whatever direction the wind blows. This is the very reason why the term “spin” has taken on a bad connotation; politicians know that the world has many shallow people, and they will try to get their votes by putting their “spin” on the real facts in order to make themselves more attractive to voters.

After Absalom’s death, Ittai vanishes from the historical record, and we are made to forever wonder what happened in the life of this loyal servant of David. Ittai should ever be remembered for his devotion and fidelity to King David for whom he had the utmost respect.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

An eight year old
died of sexual injuries on her wedding night with her 40 year old husband in
Yemen. [Photo for illustrative purposes courtesy of delhi4cats]

An eight year-old
child bride died in Yemen on her wedding night after suffering internal
injuries due to sexual trauma. Human rights organizations are calling for the
arrest of her husband, who was five times her age.

Al Nahar,
Lebanon, reported that the death occurred in the tribal area of Hardh in
northwestern Yemen, which borders Saudi Arabia. This brings even more attention
to the already existing issue of forced child marriages in the Middle East.

"According
to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), between 2011 and 2020, more than
140 million girls will become child brides. Furthermore, of the 140 million
girls who will marry before the age of 18, 50 million will be under the age of
15."

It is reported
that over a quarter of Yemen's young girls are married before the age of 15.
Not only do they lose access to health and education, these child brides are
commonly subjected to physical, emotional and sexual violence in their forced
marriages.

One of the main
issues is that there is currently no consistent established definition of a
"child" that has been agreed upon worldwide. This leaves various interpretations within
countries and little protection for those who are affected.

Establishing this
age limit is among the top priorities of groups like HRC which was responsible
for publishing the 54-page report “How Come You Allow Little Girls to Get
Married?”, documenting the lifelong damage to girls who are forced to marry at
young ages. Most pro age-limit
organizations agree that 18 should be the legal age for marriage.

In February 2009,
a law was created in Yemen that set the minimum age for marriage at 17.
Unfortunately, it was repealed after more conservative lawmakers called it
un-Islamic.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Worship is fundamental to New Testament Christianity. Since worship in any religion directs attention toward the deity (or other object) revered and since those actions demonstrate the depth of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual devotion, then worship itself demonstrates our understanding of the character of deity. Worship is a statement about who God is. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24 NKJV).

Worship is the boldest expression of our faith. It is through worship that we acknowledge the basis for our reverence and adoration. It is through worship that we openly declare how seriously we take divine authority. What happens in worship and as worship reveals what motivates and unifies people. Therefore, worship also tells others much about who we are as a people. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (Jn. 4:23).

Most Christians take it for granted that there are five acts of worship that should be fulfilled on a specific day. They assemble on the first day of the week: they partake of the Lord’s Supper, they give, they pray, they sing, and they listen to a sermon. We can readily concede that the New Testament gives an example of Christians assembling to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). In this same text Luke mentions that Paul preached. But was Paul’s preaching required by God on that day or just expedient? The apostle also told the Corinthians to give on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). While not specific to a particular day, the New Testament mentions prayer and singing as acceptable and required spiritual actions (Phil. 4:6; Col. 3:16). But what makes all of this worship? This is not an incidental matter, nor is it a question of semantics. If these actions are worship, are they worship only when we gather together in an assembly or is it worship at any time? What makes something worship?

Worshipping our God should mean much to us considering all that He has done on our behalf. It should never become meaningless or boring. Indeed, it should become a major part of our lives, a reflection of our greatest aspirations. Our worship either acknowledges the existence of a unique, perfect God or reflects a casual, imperfect god that is a sad imitation.We should contemplate God’s majesty regularly and be eager to acknowledge His grandeur in our worship to Him. Sadly, some use worship as an attempt to make up for the rest of their lives; however, this hypocrisy is not what God intended nor something He accepts. Worship should express sincerity and submission, devotion and direction. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29:2).

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

he church is made up of two sides: the
Divine side and the human side. While
the Divine side is perfect, the human side is far from it. Accordingly, the church that originated in
the mind of God (cf. Eph. 3:10-11) and was brought into being just as He
purposed and planned (cf. Mat. 16:18; Acts 2), is not absent of obstacles. After all, it’s made up of imperfect
people—many desiring to be better individuals, but some seeking their own selfish
interests. A mere cursory glance at the
New Testament proves that the church has had to deal with difficulties since
almost its very beginning (such a glance also shows that dealing with such
problems does not necessarily make individuals or congregations “issue
oriented;” practically every New Testament book was written to confront
doctrinal and/or moral issues). To prove
this proposition, consider some of the contents of several New Testament books.

Acts
5:1-11 records the sin and punishment of two early members of the church,
Ananias and Sapphira.

Romans
16:17-18 speaks of promoters of error who cause divisions contrary to the
doctrine.

1
Corinthians 15 deals with a denial of the resurrection.

2
Corinthians 2:6-8 implies that forgiveness was being withheld from a
penitent brother.

Galatians
defends the truth against Judaizing teachers.

Ephesians
4:17-32 indicates that some Christians had not completely put off their
pre-conversion, sinful activities.

Philippians
4:2 reveals that strife might have existed between two sisters in Christ.

Colossians
condemns what is often referred to as “the Colossian heresy.”

1 and 2
Thessalonians correct misunderstandings about the Second Coming.

1 Timothy
4 predicts the development of certain errors that would plague the church.

2 Timothy
2:17-18 calls the names of Hymeneus and Philetus who overthrew the faith
of some with their doctrinal error.

Titus 1:11
mentions stopping the mouths of false teachers.

Hebrews
shows the error of going back under the Old Law.

James
3:1ff warns teachers to watch what they say.

2 Peter
predicts the entrance of teachers who would bring in “damnable heresies.”

1 John
deals with those who were denying the humanity of Christ.

2 John
speaks of “deceivers” and warns against bidding such “God speed.”

Jude
exhorts his readers to “earnestly contend for the faith” because of the
creeping in of false teachers.

Revelation
is written to congregations that had to deal with false apostles and also
those who held to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

In
making known and preserving the record of these and other problems, God has not
demonstrated approval of sin and strife in the body of Christ. To the contrary, He has displayed His
displeasure with such and revealed that solutions are available and must be
applied. Though the temptation is
strong, we must not give in to the all-too-common practice of ignoring the
issues that creep into the church. Paul
chastised the Corinthian brethren for attempting this maneuver (1 Cor.
5:1-2). Instead, we must face the
obstacles that confront us, and meet them with the divinely inscribed source of
solutions—the Word of God that is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). The presence of problems is quite inevitable,
but the source of solutions is readily available—let’s use it!